Ankylosing spondylitis is a type of arthritis that affects the spine. This is a chronic inflammatory arthritis that commonly affects the sacroiliac joints in young men. The onset is usually rapid with recurring episodes of low back pain and stiffness, which radiates sometimes to buttocks or thighs. Characteristically, the symptoms are worse in the early morning and following inactivity.
The vertebrae may grow or fuse together resulting in a rigid spine. These changes may be mild or severe and may lead to a stooped posture. Early diagnosis and treatment helps in controlling pain and stiffness and may prevent significant deformity. Although it can occur at any age, ankylosing spondylitis most often strikes men in their teens and twenties.
Causes
The complete cause of Ankylosing Spondylitis is still not understood in modern medical science. It is believed to be partly related to genetics and is more common in people with a family history of this disease. Ankylosing Spondylitis is an autoimmune disorder in which the body’s own defence system destroys the body tissues.
Symptoms
• Low back pain
• Stiffness in back and lumber region
Ayurvedic View
According to Ayurveda, ankylosing spondylitis is caused due to aggravated vata causing an imbalance in vata dosha. This imbalance causes a type of arthritis of the spine and may even lead to disability in the long term. In this autoimmune disorder the disc between the vertebrae gets swollen up causing limitation of movement. This problem generally starts in late adolescence.
Ayurvedic treatment involves detoxification and elimination of toxins and the prescription of the right diet, lifestyle and herbal preparations. Also Panchakarma techniques such as kati vasti, sarvangadhara and patrapinda svedana is beneficial in this disorder.